Monday, September 26, 2011

Yesterday I posted photographs of Mari and Ole Finnestad's great grandson, Burdette Finnestad and wife Alice (Barnes) who were buried at the Belvidere Cemetery in Boone county, Illinois. Just a few yards to the east of their burial plot is a chapel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright called the Pettit Chapel.

Here is a photo of the signage for the chapel.

Here are photos of each side of the chapel.

The chapel was built in 1906 as a memorial to Dr. William Pettit by his wife, Emma. The Pettit Chapel was just one of a couple of chapels designed by Frank Lloyd Wright during his career.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Mari and Ole Finnestad's grandson, Burdette Finnestad was buried at the Belvidere Cemetery in Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois.

Here is a photo of the Finnestad plot.

Here is a closeup of their monument.

Here is a photo of the Belvidere Cemetery.

Here is a map of the Belvidere Cemetery. The Finnestad plot is located at 5th Edition, Block 9, Lot 6.

Burdette, the eldest son of Mary (Kurth) and Oliver Finnestad was born July 11, 1912 in Lyneville township, Ogle county, Illinois. Alice was born February 20, 1918 in Esmond, DeKalb county, Illinois to Helen (Gustafson) and George Barnes. Alice and Burdette were married May 6, 1939 in Creston, Ogle county, Illinois.

Burdette died May 27, 1984 in Belvidere and Alice died September 24 1970 in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Here is a photo taken last month of the marker for my great great great grandparents, Mari and Ole Finnestad, their daughter, Sarah and their granddaughter, Josephine. Josephine was the daughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr.

The recap posted last year of the burials of their children can be found here. As I posted yesterday, Mari's year of birth was 1923, not 1924.

Here is a photo of the Union Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois. The marker above is located in the second row up from the left side of the Union Cemetery arch.

Friday, September 23, 2011

With the information available in the lawsuit I mentioned earlier this week, I was able to locate the original parish record for my great great great grandmother, Mari (Iversdatter Skaar) Finnestad.

Here is the official Hjelmeland Årdal parish record for her baptism. Mari is listed as the last entry on the right side.

Mari was born July 5, 1823 on the Nord-Skaar farm in Fister and baptized August 3, 1823. Mari's parents were Iver Reiersen and Siri Rasmusdatter. The baptism record states she was born on the Nord-Skaar farm but the family was actually living on Kaltvedt søndre (southern) farm, which is where she was baptized.

Here is the Hjelmeland Årdal copy of the parish record, which may or may not be more legible than the official record. Mari is listed on the right side as number 14.

Had I known this information when I had Ole and Mari's marker placed at their burial site, I would have listed the correct birth year. More about the discrepancies involving Mari's birth are listed here.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Here is a photo I took recently of the Vallem plot located at Union Cemetery in Lee county, Illinois.

In the background is the Vallem monument, which I posted in August 2010. In the foreground is the marker for Lena Josephine (Travland), the first wife of Peter John Vallem. To the left of Lena is Peter's marker.

To the left of Peter's marker is that of his second wife, Sarah (Anderson) and to the left of Sarah is the marker for Peter's daughter, Lena Verdelle (Vallem) Dover. The marker says 'Doner' though I am not sure of the correct spelling.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Here is a photo taken last month at the Union cemetery in Lee county, Illinois, of the headstone for Ole and Mari Finnestad's daughter, Iverdine Travland. Because it was made of either limestone or concrete it's difficult to read but may be slightly more legible than previous versions I've posted.

Iverdine's daughter Ane Marie is listed at the lower section of the marker, having passed away after 2 months of age.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

About a year ago I had posted a photo of the headstone for Susanna Travland and the monument for her father-in-law, Peder Peterson Travland. I wasn't aware at the time how close I was to determining the multiple ties of the Travland family to the Finnestad family.

I recently located a lawsuit filed by my great great great grandmother, Mary (Iversdatter Skaar) Finnestad against her brother, Rasmus Skaar.

From the Sycamore True Republican, November 7, 1900 edition.

From the Sycamore True Republican February 6, 1901 edition.

From the Sycamore True Republican April 17, 1901 edition.

After obtaining a copy of the lawsuit, I learned that Martha G Peterson, had passed away November 20, 1899 and left 50 acres southwest of Malta, Illinois. Due to this lawsuit I learned that Martha was Mary Finnestad's sister. Another sister mentioned in the lawsuit was Susanna Travland, who had also passed away leaving three children, potential heirs of Martha's estate.

Because Martha did not have a will, a lawsuit was filed to determine what would happen to the 50 acres of land. Eventually the court determined the land be sold at auction and proceeds distributed.

Were it not for this lawsuit, I may never have known that Susanna (Iversdatter Skaar) had married Peter Travland, the son of Taletta Maria (Larsdatter) and Peder Pederson Travland. Iverdine, the daughter of Mary (Iversdatter Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad married Lewis Travland, the brother of Peter. At the time, I had guessed that Iverdine's in-laws were her cousins, but in reality Susanna and Peter Travland were her aunt and uncle as well as her in-laws.

My great great great grandmother Mary was the eldest child born to Sigrid (Rasmusdatter) and Iver Reierson. Martha was the 3rd child, Rasmus the 4th and Susanna was the 5th child. Sigrid and Iver's 2nd child, Marthe died at 6 months of age.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter, Marion Vallem Sanderson was born to Ellen Marie (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson on November 19, 1910 in Lee county, Illinois.

Marion was married to Wesley Everett Mark on September 7, 1935 in Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois. Marion passed away on October 18, 1997 in Rockford and was buried at the Scandinavian Cemetery in Rockford.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter, Anna Isabelle Sanderson was born to Ellen Marie (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson on July 27, 1904 in Lee county, Illinois.

Anna married Irving Benwith Ferrias in Chicago, Illinois on June 8, 1929. Anna passed away on October 30, 1995 in Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois and is buried at the Scandinavian Cemetery in Rockford.

Here is a photo of her marker.

Here is a photo of the entrance to the Scandinavian Cemetery.

Here is a map of Section 29 where Anna and family are buried at the Scandinavian Cemetery in Rockford.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Here is the obituary for Herbert Strausberger, the husband of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great great granddaughter, Dorothy Strausberger.

Dorothy Strausberger was born to Nora Elma (Peterson) and Lawrence Alvin Sanderson on August 7, 1917, in DeKalb county, Illinois. Dorothy passed away on March 4, 1991 and was buried at the Fairview Cemetery in DeKalb, Illinois.

Dorothy's grandparents were Ellen Marie (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson. Her great grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis P Vallem.

Lois passed away on November 3, 1999 just a few days before her 79th birthday and was buried next to her parents in Fairview Cemetery, DeKalb, Illinois. Here is her grave marker.

I'm not sure why her marker lists her maiden rather than her married name though here is an obituary for her husband, "Bud" Johnson from the DeKalb Daily Chronicle who was also buried at the Fairview Cemetery.

Lois' grandparents were Ellen Marie (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson. Her great grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis P Vallem.